A court in Gaza has jailed four men for the kidnapping and killing of Italian pro-Palestine activist Vittorio Arrigoni.
Arrigoni was killed in March last year by hard line Islamists, after they kidnapped him and demanded the release of prisoners, held by Hamas authorities.
28-year-old Mahmoud al-Salfiti and 27-year-old Tamer al-Hasasna were convicted of murder and kidnapping and jailed for 35 years with hard labour.
Another two men were given lesser sentences for the kidnapping and sheltering a fugitive.
The sentence was confirmed by the lawyers of the activist from the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, who said the sentence by the Hamas court was “fair”.
"PCHR, like the Arrigoni family, is satisfied by the sentences issued by the court, which can be described, under the circumstances surrounding the case, as fair and legitimate, and considers that the murderers of Arrigoni have been effectively tried," they said in a statement.
The rights group said the court refrained from imposing death sentences on the men as the victim’s family had requested Hamas authorities to spare their lives.
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